Government allocates additional US$21.8 million to 2021 State budget for COVID-19

The money will come from the central budget reserve for 2021 and will be transferred  to the Ministry of Health for the further purchase of chemicals, bio-products, and medical equipment, in line with plans adopted by the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control last year.

The Ministry of Health is in charge of managing and using the fund in a legal, efficient, and transparent manner based on the pandemic developments.

On March 11 morning, Vietnam documented zero new COVID-19 cases, leaving the national infection count unchanged at 2,529, including 1,588 domestically-transmitted cases, and 941 imported cases.

After 3 days of COVID-19 inoculation,  a total of 955 people were vaccinated, with their health remaining stable, while only some had post-injection common reactions.

Leaders of the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies have agreed to submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision to receive 30 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine on the principle of non-profit.

The 30 million doses were ordered by the Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) from AstraZeneca, including 117,600 doses that are being vaccinated for frontline medical workers in 13 provinces and cities.

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was co-developed with the University of Oxford and is recommended for people aged between 18 – 64. This vaccine gives high immunity, from 62 – 90% at different doses.

Research shows that all people who were given the vaccine had an immune response to COVID-19 without noticing any problems related to the safety of the vaccine at different doses.

The Ministry of Health is also encouraging all eligible businesses to negotiate with other COVID-19 vaccine suppliers in the world in order to import more vaccines for domestic use in line with the Government Resolution dated February 26, 2021 on the purchase and use of COVID-19 vaccines.